Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-08-09
Card.
From Executive Committee Of the
Board of Directors Of the West Hir-
giaia Hospital for the Insane.

The recently renewed attacks being made
upon the management of the West Virginia
Hospital for the Insane by portion OF the
partisan press of the State, is of such repre-
hensible character. in view of all the circum-
stances, as to demand a brief and unparalleled
statement to the public from the undersigned
members of the Board of Directors.
The so-called evidence taken by the Invests
eating Committee of the Legislature. sent to
Investigate the management and condition OF
the Hospital last winter, is not given to the
public on the ground Of its immoral and indie
cent character and unfit for publication. How
In our time can bel Yet at the same time they
are constantly guilty of offences against morals
and honor, that would make fair aud just
minded person stare in astonishment at such
methods of npholding virtue and rendering
vice odiousi" These are part OF the dark
and devious paths Of such political backs,
playing for the stake OF offices and piunder
alone, prostituting honor. morals and decency
in the unholy game In this mad and dfsap-
pointing strife.
"As the mind sadden. with failure,
Aurkier grows the shade"
But while the evidence Is withheld from the
public. these moral" editors tell the people
that the Investigating Committee found a
frightful condition of affairs existing at the
Hospital. The honor and good name OF the
Superintendent. of the old Board of Directors.
of the Governor, and OF the ne,o Board of Dr.
rcctors, are all to be sacrificed in order to sus-
tain the report of the Investigating Committee
"a report that cost the people several thous-
and dollars.-a report the conclusions OF which
are not warranted by the batch of dirty. filthy
nonsense. which they call testimony. Testi-
mony indeed II would not be received rs
testimony before any tribunal. either civil or
military. in the land. on account OF its hcarsay
character. No person of ordinary intelligence
can examine it without feeling OF indigna-
ton. that such an amount of public money
should have been expended to collect such
quantity OF foolish. contemplate drivel. and
a,I 1y hnr md OLE
the feelings of relatives and friends of patients
under treatment at the Hospital To more
fully comprehend the depth of this whole in
quiry, the report of the old Board Of Directors
port, should also be carefully examined. That
Board was composed of some OF the best and
purcst men in the State. And they arrive at a
directly contrary conclusion. founded upon the
same data. which was the basis of the report
of the Investigating Committee.
The assertion that we, as members OF the new
Board appointed by Governor Wilson, were so
appointed with the understanding that we were
to vote for the retention OF DR.. Bland Is n ma
licious and Infamous lie. We would never
have accepted the appointment under any such
condition. All that DIR. Bland ever could have
hoped for, in the appointment OF the new
Board. was that they should be men of good
character who had not already made up their
mind to condemn him without full and care
full hearing of the whole case,-that they should
not be OF the same stripe as the Legislative In
vestigating Committee. We did not know our
selves that we should support DR.. Bland, when
notified of our appointment. We had no pre-
vious notice even that we were to be appointed
until it was announced in the newspapers
After careful examination of the condition OF
the Hospital. and of the two foregoing reports,
we became satisfied and convinced of the in
Justice and outrage perpctrated upon Dr. Bland
by the report OF the Investigating Committee.
According TO our conscientious belief from the
Information that is within our reach. this war
upon DR.. Bland is nothing but plot and con-
spiracy of the "outs" to have DR.. Bland re-
moved regardless OF justice; dccency, or honor.
The principle effort Of the Investigating
Committee appears to have been an attempt to
show that DR.. Bland was an immoral and de-
PRAYED man. This was too much for them to
accomplish. The attempt showed the animus
and malice of the whole proceeding. They
known throughout the State to be struck down
by the Islander of either male or female ghouis
and harpies. The condition of the Hospital is
good, and the unfortunatcs confined therein
well and kindly treated, and carefully attend
ed. The Board of Directors conld fnH nothing
to justify the removal of DR.. Bland atis meet
in June last, and consequently did not dn him
that injustice. The election Of officers Of the
Hospital was postponed until the meeting of
the Board on the 23Td of August. ut thc request
of one OF tho members. who asked for such de-
lay and insisted that ho eaald- not then vote in
tc!llgentlv upon 30 Important matter.
Let these moraI' editors proc ed with their
clustering and lying chatter. Sarh an in famous
course. i'll reference to u great clccnosynary
institution. nNc IN T1cn OF iHc i2StS III rhc case,
can only rcEdcr them contemplate in the esti-
nation IF a!l reasonable and fair minded poo
pie. Their motive will he fully understood.
This. once and for all. is our reply to the lies.
malice and hate that actuatcs this latest
newed attempt to mislead the public mind and
bolster up the infamous report OF the Legisla-
tive Investigating Committee on the manage
ment of the Hospital under DR.. BANDS admin
istration as Superintendent.
J. BASEL.
A. F. WHELAN,
IRA C. POST.